National Board of Review Crowns ‘One Battle After Another’ Best Film of 2025

The National Board of Review has selected ‘One Battle After Another’ as the best film of 2025. Paul Thomas Anderson directs the Warner Bros. thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. The organization awarded the film four additional honors, including Best Director for Anderson and Best Actor for DiCaprio.

Benicio Del Toro earned Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the ensemble cast. Chase Infiniti received the Breakthrough Performance award for her debut role opposite DiCaprio. The film’s narrative centers on a high-stakes pursuit through urban decay, blending action sequences with character-driven tension.

Rose Byrne takes Best Actress for her role in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’, a dramedy exploring familial reconciliation. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas wins Best Supporting Actress in ‘Sentimental Value’, a Norwegian import depicting post-war inheritance disputes. Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay for ‘Sinners’ secures the Best Original Screenplay nod, following a supernatural confrontation in the American South.

Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar claim Best Adapted Screenplay for ‘Train Dreams’, based on Denis Johnson’s novella about a laborer’s isolation in early 20th-century Idaho. Autumn Durald Arkapaw receives Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for her work on ‘Sinners’, capturing nocturnal rituals with low-light precision.

The National Board of Review, founded in 1909, comprises film enthusiasts, academics, and industry professionals. This marks Anderson’s third NBR Best Director win, following recognitions for ‘There Will Be Blood’ in 2007 and ‘The Master’ in 2012. DiCaprio’s Best Actor award aligns with his prior NBR honors for ‘The Departed’ in 2006 and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ in 2013.

‘One Battle After Another’ entered production in Atlanta last spring, with principal photography concluding in October. The runtime spans 128 minutes, featuring practical stunts coordinated by Oliver Morton. Warner Bros. schedules a wide release for March 2026, positioning it as a counterprogramming entry amid summer blockbusters.

Del Toro’s character navigates moral ambiguities in a corrupt syndicate, drawing from his Oscar-winning turn in ‘Traffic’. Infiniti, a 22-year-old newcomer from New York’s theater scene, portrays a resilient operative evading capture. The film’s score, composed by Jonny Greenwood, integrates electronic pulses with orchestral swells.

Byrne’s performance in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ highlights a paraplegic veteran’s road trip with estranged siblings. Lilleaas embodies a stoic matriarch in ‘Sentimental Value’, negotiating family secrets across generations. Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ script expands on vampire lore within a jazz-era framework, starring Michael B. Jordan.

Bentley and Kwedar’s adaptation condenses Johnson’s sparse prose into a 105-minute meditation on loss. Arkapaw’s cinematography employs 35mm film stock for ‘Sinners’, emphasizing shadow play in ritualistic scenes. These selections underscore the NBR’s emphasis on narrative innovation and technical mastery.

The awards ceremony occurs December 11 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. Past NBR best films include ‘Oppenheimer’ in 2023 and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ in 2022. Anderson dedicates his directorial win to the crew’s endurance during humid location shoots.